Thread form and threaded article

ABSTRACT

A threaded product is provided having an external thread form on a tubular pin member comprises load and stab flanks on either side of a crest, along with smooth transitions between the crest and flanks. An elliptical root between the flanks aids in reducing stress and forms a dope volume between a non-conforming crest of an internal thread form of a tubular box member. Flanks of the internal thread of the box member contact flanks of the external thread of the pin member to form areas of mating contact on either side of the thread.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/286,266, entitled “Thread Form and Threaded Article,” filed Feb. 26,2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,125,361, which claims priority from and thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/637,110, entitled“Thread Form and Threaded Article,” filed Mar. 1, 2018, which are bothhereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to threaded articles, and particularly to a novelthread form adapted for applications requiring significant resistance totorsional, axial, and thrust loading.

A myriad of threads and thread forms have been developed, many forspecific purposes. Threads typically include features that enable themto seal with mating thread, where desired, but also to be engaged or“made up” in desired ways that accommodate the target application. Aparticular class of applications includes threaded connections for longstrings of tubulars, such as those used in wells, and particularly inoil and gas prospecting, drilling, completion, and production. Wellapplications present a number of unique problems that must be addressedfor successful deployment of drilling and downhole tools. Suchapplications may entail drilling, drilling assemblies, well casing,completion assemblies, production, offshore risers, offshore welldevices, and a range of different materials and material alloys.

In general, well applications call for a number of tubular sections,typically of a standard length, to be joined end-to-end by a threadedconnection that serves to support the string, and in come applicationsto transmit torsional forces to drive the string in rotation, and thatmay create seal between an inner volume and the surrounding environment.Moreover, the string may include different materials that need to bejoined to one another while avoiding failure of both the tubularsthemselves and the threaded connections. The demands of wellenvironments include the need for threads to be made up relativelyquickly, and with minimum risk of damage to the threaded connections atthe ends of tubulars, such as drill and production pipe. In addition,the threaded connections must resist significant torsional loadingencountered as a tubular string is built at a rig and deployed into thewell, many times at great lengths that may cause distortion and twistingof the string. Moreover, very significant axial and thrust loads, aswell as very high tensile loads are encountered as the tubular stringare forced into a well.

Thread forms for well tubulars include very specialized profilesdesigned with such demands in mind. While many of these function well,there remains a need for improved thread forms and threaded productsincorporating such forms, particularly for applications requiringjoining of tubulars for deviations in wells and for short radiusprograms. There is a particular need for threaded tubulars that may beemployed in different demanding environments in well applications, bothonshore and offshore, and that can better withstand axial, tensile,torsional, bending, and other loading, as well as vibration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure sets forth a novel thread form and threadedproducts designed to respond to such needs. In accordance with oneaspect, tubular product comprises a tubular pin member comprising anexternal thread form at a pin end thereof, the external thread formcomprising an external load flank, an external crest, an external stabflank, an external root, a first external radiused transition betweenthe external load flank and the external crest, and a second externalradiused transition between the external crest and the external stabflank. The external root may have an elliptical profile tangentiallyjoining the external load and external stab flanks. A tubular box membercoaxially threadingly engages the tubular pin member and comprises aninternal thread form at a box end thereof, the internal thread formcomprising an internal load flank, an internal crest, an internal stabflank, an internal root, a first internal radiused transition betweenthe internal load flank and the internal crest, and a second internalradiused transition between the internal crest and the internal stabflank. The internal root may have a shape that does not conform to theelliptical profile of the external thread form. When threadingly engagedthe external load flank and the internal load flank form a first area ofmating contact (which may form a seal) and the external stab flank andthe internal stab flank form a second area of mating contact (which mayalso form a seal), and a dope volume is created between the externalroot and the internal root.

In certain embodiments, the external load flank is inclined with respectto a centerline of pin member by between approximately 1 andapproximately 6 degrees, the external stab flank being inclined withrespect to the centerline of the pin member and in a direction oppositethe external load flank by between approximately 27 degrees andapproximately 33 degrees. Moreover, in certain embodiments, the internalload flank is inclined with respect to a centerline of tubular boxmember by between approximately 1 and approximately 6 degrees, theinternal stab flank being inclined with respect to the centerline of thepin member and in a direction opposite the internal load flank bybetween approximately 27 degrees and approximately 33 degrees.

In accordance with other aspects of the present disclosure, a threadedproduct comprises a tubular pin member comprising an external threadform at a pin end thereof, the external thread form comprising anexternal load flank, an external crest, an external stab flank, anexternal root, a first external radiused transition between the externalload flank and the external crest, and a second external radiusedtransition between the external crest and the external stab flank, theexternal load flank being inclined with respect to a centerline of pinmember, the external stab flank being inclined with respect to thecenterline of the pin member and in a direction opposite the externalload flank, and wherein the external root has an elliptical profiletangentially joining the external load and external stab flanks. Whenthreadingly engaged with a mating tubular box member the external loadflank forms a first area of mating contact with an internal load flankof the mating tubular box member, and the external stab flank forms asecond area of mating contact with an internal stab flank of the matingtubular box member, and a dope volume is created between the externalroot and an internal root of the mating tubular box member.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical representation of an example oil and gasapplication utilizing the new thread forms of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a elevational views of portions of strings oftubular products that may utilize the new thread forms;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through an example connection of joint madebetween two tubular members and utilizing the new thread forms;

FIG. 4 is a thread profile illustrating features of a new externalthread form;

FIGS. 5A-5C are profile views of details of example embodiments forroots of the external thread form using an elliptical root form;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of a connection or joint showingmating engagement of the external and internal thread forms;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical representation of certain forces applied tothe new thread form, illustrating balancing of the forces during use andpermitted deformation;

FIG. 8 is a stress-strain curve for steel illustrating certain rangeswithin which the thread form may operate during different phases of awell application; and

FIG. 9 is a similar stress-strain curve for titanium or aluminumillustrating ranges in which the thread form may operate in wellapplications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure sets forth improvements in thread forms,particularly well suited for well environments and applications. Inparticular, high deviated drilling programs and short radius drillingprograms are becoming widely used in existing wells to access somereservoirs for the first time. In deviated wells, changes in directionand orientation are implemented to access horizons and deposits ofinterest, and tubular products deployed in the wells must permit andwithstand such deviations. Short radius programs enable drilling withinthe same zone, though tight curves. It should be borne in mind, however,that the thread forms and techniques outlined in the present disclosuremay be applied to both land and offshore operations, and in differentstages of well formation and drilling, working, completion, production.

Due to the steep angle of the deviated well, high bending stresses areinduced in the pipe while rotating in the curved portion of the well.With these high bending moments the casing connection may developfatigue cracks at the thread roots of the connection. It has beencustomary in conventional buttress threads that increasing the rootradii at the corners of the thread form aids in the reduction of theconnections' peak stresses at those critical areas. Most casingmanufactures are now designing connections to help in the reduction onthe connection fatigue stresses by applying this method. In developingthese new connections by the above mentioned method, a loss ofperformance of the connection will be noticed. Designers may have tocompromise with the reduction in torque and or tensile capacity of theconnection due to the geometry of the connection, which is highlyaffected by the thread form design. In some cases it becomes obviousthat there is not enough steel within the design area, resulting in theneed for another method, such as undercutting the threads to produce alarger root radius. However, this method for the most part will yieldtwo or more radii to produce this effect. In the same manner this methodwill also reduce the performance of the connection in torque and tensilecapacity. Of particular concern, in many cases, may be the design ofreliable tubular joints for applications involving severe dog legs,completion assemblies, and so forth.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary well application utilizing the proposedthread form and tubulars incorporating it. As shown, the well system 10comprises a well 12 formed in an area of interest on the ground surface.The system is illustrated as an onshore operation located on the earth'ssurface although the present thread forms and threaded products are notlimited to such operations, but may be used in offshore applications, inwhich the drilling and service equipment and systems described would belocated on a vessel or platform, and the well would be located below abody of water. In FIG. 1 , the underlying ground or earth is illustratedbelow the surface such that well equipment is positioned near or overone or more wells 12. One or more subterranean horizons 16 are traversedby the well, which ultimately leads to one or more horizons of interest18. The well and associated equipment permit, for example, accessing andextracting the hydrocarbons located in the hydrocarbon zones ofinterest, depending upon the purpose of the well. In many applications,the horizons will hold hydrocarbons that will ultimately be producedfrom the well, such as oil and/or gas. The well equipment may be usedfor any operation on the well, such as drilling, completion, workover,and so forth. In many operations the installation may be temporarilylocated at the well site, and additional components may be provided.

In the simplified illustration of FIG. 1 , equipment is very generallyshown, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thisequipment is conventional and is found in some form in all suchoperations. For example, a derrick 14 allows for various tools,instruments and tubular strings to be assembled and lowered into thewell, traversing both the horizons 16 and the particular horizons ofinterest 18. Well or surface equipment 20 will typically include drawworks, a rotary table, generators, instrumentations, and so forth.Control and monitoring systems 22 allow for monitoring all aspects ofdrilling, completion, workover or any other operations performed, aswell as well conditions, such as pressures, flow rates, depths, rates ofpenetration, and so forth.

In accordance with the present disclosure, various different tubularstocks may be provided that utilize the disclosed thread forms, andthese may be stored on any suitable racks or other storage locations. InFIG. 1 a first of these is designated tubular 1 storage 24, and thesecond is designated tubular 2 storage 26. As will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, such tubular products may comprise lengths ofpipe with connectors at each end to allow for extended strings to beassembled, typically by screwing one into the other, or two tubularproducts connected via a single coupling. Different tubular stocks maybe used to allow the operation to balance the technical qualities andperformance possibilities of each against their costs.

In the illustration of FIG. 1 , a well comprises a first, generallyvertical section 28 that extends through the upper horizons 16, and anoff-vertical section 30 that extends through at least a portion of thezone of interest 18. The vertical section is formed to access thehorizon of interest, and may extend to any desired depth, such as 7,000feet to 12,000 feet. The off-vertical section may extend at any desiredangle from the vertical section, which may be generally perpendicular tothe vertical section, although other angles for this section may beused. In practice, a well or a well system may access a number oflocations in one or more horizons of interest by directional drilling tocreate one or more such off-vertical sections. A casing 32 isillustrated as already deployed in the well. This casing may be at leastpartially surrounded by cement 34 after it is set, to fortify at leastpart of the well and to secure the casing in the zone of interest. Aswill be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the casing and cementsections may differ from well to well depending upon such factors as thegeology of the subterranean horizons, the sizes desired, the anticipatedconditions (e.g., pressures and flow) and so forth.

Near the end of the well, which will typically be in the off-verticalsection 30, an open hole section 36 extends into the horizon ofinterest. In this illustrated embodiment, the casing 32 extends a length38 through the vertical section 28 of the well and through a portion ofthe off-vertical section 30 to a limit 40. The casing comprises atubular string that is run into the well following drilling. Suchstrings may comprise any suitable length of tubular products, and thesewill depend upon a number of factors, but typically the location of thehorizon of interest (e.g., its depth and the length of the off-verticalsection, the distance to a location of interest), the depth of thewater, if offshore, and so forth. In the illustration of FIG. 1 , thetubular casing extends into the open hole section 36. A heel 42 in thetubular string will be formed where the build section transitions intothe horizontal section. As noted, the proposed thread form allows forimproved performance in such wells, particularly where deviationsrequire significant bending of tubular strings, and where tight bendsare required for short radius programs.

The present disclosure relates to a thread form that incorporates achange in geometry evolving from the conventional buttress thread toachieve not only a high level of fatigue resistance to bending stresses,but also higher torque and tensile capabilities within the given designarea. The resulting thread form may be particularly useful in shortradius drilling applications by virtue of its greater fatigueresistance, torque, and tensile capacity, but also its light weightdesign. Mention al and ti The light weight design may be regardedmeaning that a casing connection utilizing the new thread form has asmall outer diameter and larger inner diameter on the connection,allowing for a reduction of pressure loss within the well, which mayhelp to clean the hole of all cuttings and debris as the well isdrilling, and that may allow for greater rate of penetration (i.e.,reaching the target zone in less time). Along with the improvedhydraulics within the drilling application the light weight design whenused with tubulars offered by the new thread form may also include achange in steel alloy where the density of the alloy will aid in thetotal weight of the string.

The current design is aimed at evolving from a conventional buttressthread and moving on to what may be termed a more “ellipse” thread formthat will allow for larger root surface as well as keeping the male andfemale members of the tubular connection engaged at their criticalload-bearing contact areas while a bending moment is being applied tothe casing connection. This design will also encompass high torsionaland tensile capacity as well as reach a high level of fatigue cycles dueto the geometry of the ellipse thread form, all while maintaining alarge cross-sectional area on a light weigh alloy.

The new thread form is aimed at producing a strong, reliable, gas tight,light weight tubular connection which will encompass a new “ellipse”thread form to assist in reaching a high cyclic fatigue life of theconnection. The thread form may be used in a single variable pitchshoulder casing connection, where the connection will have an internalmating shoulder This may aid in producing additional surface area forthe higher torque requirements. The thread form may have one or twometal-to-metal interference seals adjacent to the internal and externalshoulders. The invention will maintain minimal cross-sectional area atthe critical design areas of the connection. The connection may havethreads that will be on a taper, such as a step taper. Moreover, theconnection may be machined on ferrous alloy and/or light weightnon-ferrous alloys or in a combination of both.

The proposed thread form is, therefore, not a conventional buttressthread, but provides load flanks of the male and female thread membersas well as a large root surface for distribution of bending stresses atthe critical area of the connection by means of a single elliptical rooton the external make thread form. In certain contemplated embodiments,the external or male thread form will have stab flank having an angle onthe order of approximately 93° from the thread axis, and a load flankhaving an angle on the order of approximately 60° from the thread axis.The male thread form may have a single elliptical root between the loadflank and stab flank. The thread roots and thread crest may not be inengagement. The internal or female thread form may have a stab flankhaving an angle on the order of approximately 60° from the thread axis,and a load flank having an angle on the order of approximately 93° fromthe thread axis. The internal thread form may not have an ellipticalroot. The root taper may be parallel to the crest taper. Moreover, thethread form may have supplementary radii at all corners to reduce anystress risers that could occur due to the bending loads. The internaland external threads may have a taper with a minimum change inrevolution per thread on the order of approximately 0.003″. The tapermay allow for a maximum efficient use of the minimal cross-sectionalarea and deeper stabbing of the connection with minimal amount ofrevolutions to shoulder engagement.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate typical tubular strings that may be made upusing the proposed thread forms. As noted, the thread forms may be usedfor a number of well applications, including drill pipe, casing,production tubulars, and so forth. In many cases, the tubular string,indicated by reference numeral 44 in FIG. 2A will comprise a number ofstandard sections, such as a first section 46 joined to a second section48 by a threaded connection. In this embodiment, each tubular sectionhas a box or female end 50A and 50B, and a tubular body 52A and 52B thateach terminate in a male or pin end (not separately shown in FIG. 2A,but see FIGS. 3 and 6 ). Similarly, in certain other embodiments, acoupling arrangement may be provided for the connections, as illustratedin FIG. 2B. In these embodiments, the tubular string 54 comprises firstand second sections 56A and 56B having male or pin ends that arethreadingly received in a coupling 58. In both arrangements, internalthreads on the box or coupling have a form described below, whileexternal threads on the pin or male ends have a compatible form as alsodescribed below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a joint or connection 60 comprising a tubular boxmember 62 and a tubular pin member 64 threadingly engaged. In a typicaltubular string, the pin member will stab into the box member and will bethreaded by rotation of one or both members until abutting surfaces stopthe rotation and the thread forms are sealingly engaged, as discussedbelow. The box member 62 thus has an internal thread form 66 while thepin member 64 has a corresponding and mating external thread form 68.The tubular members are joined co-axially along a common centerline oraxis 70 which is also the centerline or axis of the thread forms. In theillustrated embodiment, a torque shoulder 72 is provided on the interiorsurface of the box member to abut against an end of the pin member tostop engagement. Also, in this embodiment, the box and pin members havemating internal and external metal-to-metal compression seal surfacesthat, when the tubular members are fully engaged, abut and form,adjacent to a void 74, a first seal 76. The box and pin members haveadditional sealing surfaces at a distal end of the box member thatsimilarly abut and form a second metal-to-metal seal 78.

FIG. 4 provides a more detailed view of the external thread form of thepin member. The thread form includes a number of features that aid informing a sealed engagement that resists torsional, thrust, and bendingloads, reduces stresses, and provides for a volume for dope between theexternal and internal threads when the pin and box members are fullyengaged. As illustrated, from the tubular end towards the open, pin end,the thread form 80 has a load flank 82 followed by a radiused transition84 to a crest 86. Forward of the crest 86 is another radiused transition88, and a stab flank 90. The stab flank is inclined downwardly to a root92 in the form of a partial ellipse. As noted below, the load and stabflanks are both inclined, though the load flank has a much steeperincline 94 than the incline 96 of the stab flank. It may also be notedthat the elliptical root makes a smooth transition from the stab flankand to the load flank, such as by joining the ellipse of the root andthe flanks at tangent points of the ellipse. The size, depth, inclines,and particular geometries of the elements of the external thread formmay, of course, be adapted depending upon the type of tubular product towhich it is applied, the size of the tubular product, the environmentand anticipated loading, and so forth.

It should be noted that when used in connection with the illustratedtransition zones between the flanks and the crest, the term “radiused”need not imply a circular radius. Other radius shapes and forms may beused, and these may include one or more curvatures. These curvatures aidin reducing stresses in the threads, and may be optimized based uponsuch factors as the size and form of the other thread form features, theloading, the materials used, and so forth.

In certain presently contemplated embodiments, the new thread form maybe adapted for specific sizes and configurations, such as for OCTGproduct lines in sizes ranging from 2⅜″ tubing to 20″ casing. Moreover,the thread forms may be used, for example, on drilling tubulars rangingfrom 2⅜″ OD drill pipe to 7⅝″ OD drill pipe. As for the detailed designof the threads themselves, it is contemplated that an example embodimentmay have 8 threads per inch in a single-lead configuration, and 4threads per inch in a double-lead configuration. An example height orheight range from root to crest may be on the order of approximately0.034″ to 0.140″ for external threads, and 0.025″ to 0.129″ for internalthreads. Example angles for the load flank may be from approximately 1°to approximately 6°, and more particular, approximately 3°. Exampleradii for transitions between the load flank and crest may be on theorder of approximately 0.008″ to approximately 0.015″. In certainpresently contemplated embodiments, the crest is parallel to thecenterline of the tubular. The overall length of the crest may varybetween, for example, approximately 0.042″ to and approximately 0.052″,depending upon the lead. The radius of the transition from the crest tothe stab flank may vary, for example, between 0.008″ to approximately0.015″. The angle of the stab flank may vary, for example, betweenapproximately 27° to approximately 33°, and more particularlyapproximately 30°. The elliptical radius may be between approximately12% to approximately 14%. Where a volume or area between the box and thethread provided (e.g., for dope), this may comprise a cross-sectionalarea of at least approximately 4.9583 in², based on the 2⅞″ design. Suchareas, as well as the particular overall configuration of the threadmay, of course, change based upon the connection, the thread length, andthe design size.

It should be noted that the present thread technologies may be employedwith a range of materials, and particularly with those material used inwell applications, such as steels, titanium, and aluminum. As discussedbelow, the threads may be optimized to maintain stresses and strainswithin desired ranges, based upon the forces anticipated during use(e.g., owing to the length of the tubular string, its size, axial,bending, and rotational forces, etc.). Moreover, various materialcombinations may be used, such that the box and pin members may be ofthe same material, or different materials. It is presently contemplatedthat the tread forms may be used with steel-steel tubular connections,steel-titanium connections, steel-aluminum connections, as well as withtitanium-titanium connections, aluminum-aluminum connections, andtitanium-aluminum connections.

It may be further noted that in presently contemplated embodiments, thedepth and geometry of the elliptical root may be selected based on arange of factors. These may include, for example, the length and pitchof the thread form, the stress relief desired of the elliptical root,and the dope volume to be provided between the elliptical root of theexternal thread form and the crest of the mating internal thread form,which is non-elliptical, as discussed below. Moreover, the major axis ofthe ellipse forming the root may be parallel to either the taper of thethread, which may comprise a step taper, or to the centerline or axis ofthe tubular pin member, or may be offset with respect to one or both ofthese. FIG. 5A illustrates an embodiment in which the elliptical root 92joins the stab and load flanks tangentially, and where a volume 98 isformed by the ellipse. The transition points 100 and 102 are thosepoints at which the flanks transition to the ellipse. Foci 104 of theellipse lie on the major axis, which is generally parallel to either thetaper of the thread form, or to the centerline or axis of the tubularmember. FIG. 5B illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the majoraxis 106 of the ellipse of the root it inclined backwardly, while stilljoining the bordering flanks tangentially. In a further alternativeillustrated in FIG. 5C, the major axis 106 of the root is inclinedforwardly, again joining the bordering flanks tangentially. Regardingthe taper, it may be noted that the pitch diameter of the thread maytaper, and the crest may taper parallel to the pitch diameter or to theaxis or rotation of the pin. Moreover, as noted, this taper may comprisea step taper.

FIG. 6 illustrates thread forms of the box member 62 and pin member 64fully engaged. As shown, in the resulting joint 108, the load and stabflanks of the external and internal thread forms engage with one anotherto form areas of mating contact (which may form seals) on both sides ofthe thread. It should be noted that the crest of the internal threadform of the box member does not have a conforming elliptical shape,effectively creating, beneath internal thread form 110, a volume 112 fordope used to aid in sealing the joint. Moreover, the base of theexternal thread form root follows the taper, as indicated by line 114,while the crest of the external thread form also follows the taper asindicated by line 116, both in the direction of the open pin end asindicated by arrow 118.

FIG. 7 illustrates one thread of the new thread form when engaged inuse, and subjected to stresses of a well application. As shown, forceson the thread may include compressive forces 120 on the load flank 82,compressive forces 122 on the stab flank 90, as well as compressiveforces 124 on the crest. These forces come into play because all threeof these surfaces of the external thread are in contact withcorresponding surfaces of the internal thread when fully engaged. Someload balancing may take place between the flank loads, both due to theloads themselves and the angles of the flanks. Under the influence ofsuch loading, during certain phases of use in well applications (e.g.,when being rotated in deviated regions, short radii, well heels, etc.),deformation may be permitted and designed into the thread form asillustrated by the broken lines in FIG. 7 , particularly owing to thepresence of the elliptical root. Thus, the elliptical root not onlyprovides a reservoir for dope (and exerts a hoop stress owing thepresence of dope when the connection is made up), but reduces stressesand increases fatigue life in harsh and demanding well applications. Inparticular, in certain demanding and dynamic situations, the thread formmay permit rocking movements where stresses are reduced by theelliptical root, among the other features of the thread form.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example stress-strain relationship 126 for steel,with stress along the vertical axis 128 and strain along the horizontalaxis 130. Above the linear region 132, the yield strength is reached atpoint 134 followed by the ultimate tensile strength 136. For steel, thedifference between the yield strength and the ultimate tensile strengthmay be on the order of 20-30 ksi. In certain presently contemplatedembodiments, when steel is used (e.g. in a steel-steel connection), thethread form having the features outlined above may be designed tooperate within a region 140 in well completion applications, while in aregion 142 between the yield strength and the ultimate tensile strengthin drilling operations. Such regions may usefully permit some degree ofstrain and localized yielding.

FIG. 9 is a similar example of a relationship 144 of stress 146 tostrain 148, but for titanium or aluminum. Here, above the linear region150, the yield strength 152 and ultimate tensile strength 154 may beseparated on the order of 10 ksi for titanium, and 6 ksi for aluminum,as indicated by reference numeral 156. For such materials, it may bedesired to adapt the thread form to remain within a region 158 duringboth drilling and completion operations.

It should be noted that references to “steel”, “titanium” and “aluminum”should be understood to include various alloys of these materials. Thoseskilled in the art may readily obtain technical specifications ofparticular alloys, and may adapt the new thread forms for the materials,sizes, and loading given the disclosure provided here without undueexperimentation. It should also be noted that as the disclosed threadmay be adapted to certain materials and material properties, such asstrengths can be changed, such as by heat treatment. Moreover, physicalproperties such as modulus may be taken into account as the thread formsare adapted, and it is contemplated that such adaptations based onfactors such as modulus may be made to the pin or the box, or both.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications and changes will occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A threaded product comprising: a tubularpin member comprising an external thread form at a pin end thereof, theexternal thread form comprising an external load flank, an externalcrest, an external stab flank, an external root, a first externalradiused transition between the external load flank and the externalcrest, and a second external radiused transition between the externalcrest and the external stab flank, the external load flank beinginclined with respect to a centerline of pin member by betweenapproximately 1 and approximately 6 degrees, the external stab flankbeing inclined with respect to the centerline of the pin member and in adirection opposite the external load flank by between approximately 27degrees and approximately 33 degrees, and wherein the external root hasan elliptical profile tangentially joining the external load andexternal stab flanks, wherein the tubular member comprises a titanium oraluminum alloy, and the elliptical profile having a major ellipse axisoriented non-parallel with respect to a taper of the external crest; anda tubular box member configured to coaxially threadingly engage thetubular pin member and comprising an internal thread form at a box endthereof, the internal thread form comprising an internal load flank, aninternal crest, an internal stab flank, an internal root, a firstinternal radiused transition between the internal load flank and theinternal crest, and a second internal radiused transition between theinternal crest and the internal stab flank, the internal load flankbeing inclined with respect to a centerline of tubular box member bybetween approximately 1 and approximately 6 degrees, the internal stabflank being inclined with respect to the centerline of the pin memberand in a direction opposite the internal load flank by betweenapproximately 27 degrees and approximately 33 degrees, and wherein theinternal root has a shape that does not conform to the ellipticalprofile of the external thread form; wherein when threadingly engagedthe external load flank and the internal load flank form a first area ofmating contact and the external stab flank and the internal stab flankform a second area of mating contact, and a dope volume is createdbetween the external root and the internal root.
 2. The threaded productof claim 1, wherein the external load flank and the internal load flankhave substantially the same incline.
 3. The threaded product of claim 1,wherein the external stab flank and the internal stab flank havesubstantially the same incline.
 4. The threaded product of claim 1,wherein the elliptical profile has a major axis inclined forwardly withrespect to the taper of the external crest.
 5. The threaded product ofclaim 4, wherein the taper comprises a minimum of approximately 0.003″per revolution of thread.
 6. The threaded product of claim 1, whereinthe elliptical profile has a major axis inclined backwardly with respectto taper of the external crest.
 7. The threaded product of claim 1,wherein the tubular pin member comprises a first metal-to-metalcompression seal surface near a forward end thereof, and/or the tubularbox member comprises a second metal-to-metal compression seal surfacethat mates with the first metal-to-metal compression seal surface toform an internal seal.
 8. The threaded product of claim 1, wherein thetubular box member comprises a torque shoulder that abuts a forward endof the tubular pin member.
 9. The threaded product of claim 1, whereinthe threaded product comprises a first extended tube with the tubularpin member and tubular box members at opposite ends thereof.
 10. Thethreaded product of claim 1, wherein the threaded product comprises afirst threaded tube with tubular pin members at ends thereof, and atubular connector with tubular box members at opposite ends thereof. 11.A threaded product comprising: a tubular pin member comprising anexternal thread form at a pin end thereof, the external thread formcomprising an external load flank, an external crest, an external stabflank, an external root, a first external radiused transition betweenthe external load flank and the external crest, and a second externalradiused transition between the external crest and the external stabflank, the external load flank being inclined with respect to acenterline of pin member, the external stab flank being inclined withrespect to the centerline of the pin member and in a direction oppositethe external load flank, and wherein the external root has an ellipticalprofile tangentially joining the external load and external stab flanks,wherein the tubular member comprises a titanium or aluminum alloy, andthe elliptical profile having a major ellipse axis oriented non-parallelwith respect to a taper of the external crest; and a tubular box memberconfigured to coaxially threadingly engage the tubular pin member andcomprising an internal thread form at a box end thereof, the internalthread form comprising an internal load flank, an internal crest, aninternal stab flank, an internal root, a first internal radiusedtransition between the internal load flank and the internal crest, and asecond internal radiused transition between the internal crest and theinternal stab flank, the internal load flank being inclined with respectto a centerline of tubular box member, the internal stab flank beinginclined with respect to the centerline of the pin member and in adirection opposite the internal load flank, and wherein the internalroot has a shape that does not conform to the elliptical profile of theexternal thread form, wherein the internal load flank being inclinedwith respect to a centerline of tubular box member by betweenapproximately 1 and approximately 6 degrees; wherein when threadinglyengaged the external load flank and the internal load flank form a firstarea of mating contact and the external stab flank and the internal stabflank form a second area of mating contact, and a dope volume is createdbetween the external root and the internal root.
 12. The threadedproduct of claim 11, wherein the external load flank and the internalload flank have substantially the same incline.
 13. The threaded productof claim 11, wherein the external stab flank and the internal stab flankhave substantially the same incline.
 14. The threaded product of claim11, wherein the external crest has a step taper and the ellipticalprofile has a major axis inclined forwardly or backwardly with respectto the step taper.
 15. The threaded product of claim 11, wherein thetubular pin member comprises a first metal-to-metal compression sealsurface near a forward end thereof, and/or the tubular box membercomprises a second metal-to-metal compression seal surface that mateswith the first metal-to-metal compression seal surface to form aninternal seal.
 16. A threaded product comprising: a tubular pin membercomprising an external thread form at a pin end thereof, the externalthread form comprising an external load flank, an external crest, anexternal stab flank, an external root, a first external radiusedtransition between the external load flank and the external crest, and asecond external radiused transition between the external crest and theexternal stab flank, the external load flank being inclined with respectto a centerline of pin member, the external stab flank being inclinedwith respect to the centerline of the pin member and in a directionopposite the external load flank, and wherein the external root has anelliptical profile tangentially joining the external load and externalstab flank, wherein the tubular member comprises a titanium or aluminumalloy, and the elliptical profile having a major ellipse axis orientednon-parallel with respect to a taper of the external crest; wherein whenthreadingly engaged with a mating tubular box member the external loadflank forms a first area of mating contact with an internal load flankof the mating tubular box member, and the external stab flank forms asecond area of mating contact with an internal stab flank of the matingtubular box member, and a dope volume is created between the externalroot and an internal root of the mating tubular box member and whereinthe external crest has a step taper and the elliptical profile has amajor axis inclined forwardly or backwardly with respect to the steptaper.
 17. The threaded product of claim 16, wherein the step tapercomprises a minimum of approximately 0.003″ per revolution of thread.18. The threaded product of claim 16, wherein the threaded productcomprises a first extended tube with the tubular pin member at one endthereof and a tubular box member at an opposite end.